Category Archives: Organic

Some health trends last forever and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is one of them! Its benefits are numerous!

Taking a tablespoon of ACV before meals can help stabilize blood-sugar levels, which is very useful for digestion of high-carbohydrate meals, especially for those who have diabetes.

One of the benefits of ACV is that it can ease an upset stomach. Are you feeling bloated? Nauseous? Simply add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a small glass of water to solve your discomfort. The stomach discomfort is typically because of bacteria and the vinegar contains pectin, which has soothing properties.

ACV can also help with a variety of cold symptoms. Gurgling with two ounces of apple cider vinegar mixed with two ounces of warm water will soothe a sore throat. Along with alleviating a sore throat, ACV will clear your nose of congestion and stuffiness. The potassium in the vinegar makes your mucous thinner, while the acid reacts with the bacteria. This can relieve your stuffy feeling almost instantly.

Not only can ACV help with your cold, but also, it can help in the cold months with dry scalp. You may experience dandruff, which can be embarrassing. Mixing the vinegar with water and then with your shampoo will help your dry scalp. Again, the acidity in the vinegar prevents germs from invading your skin and prevents a dry scalp.

You are probably recognizing a trend; ACV helps almost any condition that is bacterial in nature. It can even be helpful in treating acne. It kills the bacteria on the surface of your skin and leaves you with clear, smooth skin that will be sure to make you happy.

Falling asleep during work? Instead of grabbing another cup of coffee, try grabbing some ACV. Having one tablespoon of vinegar gives you the same amount of energy as a cup of coffee.

The most effective ACV is in a glass bottle, organic, and unfiltered, such as Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar. Natur-Tyme sells the 32-ounce Bragg’s ACV for 30% off MSRP everyday; it is one of our customers’ favorite L.E.A.N. (Lower Everyday at Natur-Tyme) products!

Organic fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products are more expensive, generally anywhere from 20 percent to 100 percent more than conventionally grown and raised groceries. [However], there are ways to get a lot of organic bang for your buck:

Stock up at sale time. Yes, even organic products go on sale at health-food grocery stores.

Shop at farmers markets. Food that’s grown, produced, and sold locally is a great way to help the planet heal itself, and without middlemen between you and the grower, the prices can be excellent. Farmers market produce tastes better than fruits and vegetables that have traveled thousands of miles from farm to plate.

Eat organic food instead of going out to a restaurant. Yes, this means time spent preparing and cooking organic foods, but eating organic food is cheaper than taking the family to a fast-food place or “fast casual” restaurant—and much healthier, of course. A family of four would have to pay a minimum of $20 to $25 for a meal out, but you could pay for a wonderful home-cooked meal, complete with organic, grass-fed beef or wild-caught fish for that amount—even less. [However], if you are interested in eating out, search for local organic restaurants as more and more of them are opening their doors in major and even smaller cities all across the U.S.

Eating organic is cheaper than going on a special diet. And there’s a good chance you’ll lose extra pounds that wouldn’t come off with any other diet.

If you’re taking nutritional supplements, shop organic as well. Surveys suggest that 40 percent to 70 percent of Americans consume nutritional supplements, so look for products that are certified-organic (Check for the USDA seal) as more and more leading brands are taking the giant leap and producing nutritional formulations using organic ingredients.

When you get down to the nitty-gritty, the decision to eat organic foods boils down to what’s important to you. What you spend your money on shows where your [interests lay] and where your heart is.

Do you want to live a healthier life and leave a smaller footprint on the planet? Do you see organic foods as a down-payment for your future and your health?

Let me leave you with this little saying that puts everything in perspective:You can pay the farmer now, or you can pay the doctor later.If you would like more inspiring healthy-living tips from Jordan Rubin, be sure to attend his April 10th lecture from 2:15-3:45 at Natur-Tyme’s 15th annual health fair, held at the New Your State Fairgrounds. Tickets are available on our website.

At Natur-Tyme, we carry a wide variety of high-quality multivitamins. One such selection is Garden of Life’s mykind line. This is the story of the inception of this line.

Several months ago, Garden of Life met with Alicia Silverstone, noted actress, author, and health advocate, to talk about supplements. Hauling her luggage-sized purse with her, she proceeded to pull out several multivitamin products…and quickly proclaimed, “I’m confused. . . which of these products is actually from organic foods that I eat and which of these do not start off with chemicals?” To which Garden of Life answered, “None.”

That was the shocking truth. Silverstone went to great lengths to eat a diet of organic, chemical (and cruelty) free foods. But to supplement that diet, there was not a multivitamin on the market that she could take. Even the best fermented or cultured multis all started off with chemical isolates and the tableted versions had harsh chemical binders, fillers, or coatings. What a disappointment. Silverstone wanted a multivitamin that was made from the types of foods she ate—Certified-USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and real!

Garden of Life wanted the same thing—they always have. Creating a vitamin that started off with organic foods, concentrating those foods into meaningful amounts of vitamins and minerals, was always a goal for them. And after years of research, they were close to achieving it.

The process for efficiently harvesting the vitamins and minerals from their organic food sources eluded them for over a decade. However, a few years ago, they began their relationship with a scientist who holds multiple international patents for his novel approach to harvesting vitamins and minerals from organic fruit and herbs. So, they realized that fate had brought them together at just the right time, and they joined forces with Silverstone to create mykind Organics.

Shortly thereafter, they had a major breakthrough with the last obstacle to creating their Certified-Organic multi—they figured out an entirely new, organic way to make a tablet without using the common binders such as magnesium stearate. The process was so novel that it’s now patent-pending, and they call it, Clean Tablet Technology™. This newly invented, entirely organic tablet system worked beautifully, and the finished tablets looked great, had a pleasant smell and taste, and an organic coating making them easy to swallow.

Check out the mykind Organics line at Natur-Tyme and if you have any questions, our professional supplement & vitamin educators would be happy to assist you.

I started gardening just two years ago and fell in love with fresh-picked organic carrots. Because my harvest of carrots this fall was so humungous (hundreds of carrots), I had to become inventive! I developed this recipe, which has been given two thumbs up by my three-year old. It would make a lovely holiday meal side dish! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Ingredients:

8 medium carrots, sliced

1/2 cup water

1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained

1/2 cup chopped, peeled Fuji, Braeburn, or Cortland apple

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup honey

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

1 tablespoon gluten-free flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Directions:

Place carrots and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil;
reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes.

Add pineapple, apple, cranberries, honey, lemon juice, and salt.

Cook 3-4 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.

My hope is that most of the population knows and understands what GMOs really are. GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. Genetic modification of food involves splicing genes into the DNA of food, crops, or animals. GMOs can be engineered with genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, or even humans. According to the USDA, in 2009, 93% of soy, 93% of cotton, 86% of corn grown in the U.S. was genetically-modified. It is estimated that over 90% of canola grown is genetically-modified. I am sure it is much more now! Sugar beets, which are used as the sugar source in so many products, are GMOs as well. Also within the last one to two years, alfalfa, which is used as a food source for animals, is now genetically-modified. In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs because they are not proven safe.

If any of you have ever watched the documentary Genetic Roulette, you KNOW how bad GMOs are for human AND animal consumption. Approximately 75 percent of our food contains GMOs, and these GMOs are exposed to 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides! So knowing this…would you want any of this in your diet….or your newborn baby’s formula??? I certainly wouldn’t!!!

I recently learned the horrifying news that according to GMWatch, Purity brands infant formula and cereal contained extremely high levels of GMOs. Nestlé has gone on record stating: “. . . it took consumer preferences into consideration and therefore all its infant cereals in South Africa used non-GM maize.” Great! They did that for them, but why are they not doing that for us in the US?

Just a little FYI, Nestlé is in the company of Abbott Laboratories (makers of Similac), and Mead Johnson Nutrition (makers of Enfamil). Their formulas contain corn, sugar, or soy—all ingredients which are highly likely to be GMO!

GMO crops were created to be able to withstand pesticides. The weeds have built up resistance now to these pesticides; therefore, new pesticides are being formulated that may be even more dangerous to your health. Recently, new soybean and corn seeds have been reengineered to survive the strongest pesticides out there. The latest to emerge are glyphosate and the 2, 4-D. During the Vietnam War, 2, 4-D was used (and then banned). Do we really want these in our food supply? I don’t!

Exposure to the chemical 2, 4-D is linked to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, thyroid & reproductive problems, Parkinson’s disease, and neurological damage. So say NO to GMO!! Natur-Tyme has several GMO-FREE choices on sale throughout October 2014, which is Non-GMO month.

Homeopathy is a true healing system. It is wonderful not only because it is inexpensive, but also because it is safe and it doesn’t interfere with medications. Homeopathy is often misunderstood because of its many dilutions and some individuals think it only has a placebo effect. If that were true, it wouldn’t provide such great results for babies and animals!

Because homeopathy is based on “like cures like,” match the symptoms to the remedy as best as possible. A children’s dose is typically three pellets, three times a day of the quick dissolving (30X strength) tablets under the tongue.

Here are a few common remedies that you might find helpful for your children:

Arnica is the most common household homeopathic remedy. This is known as the “accident remedy.” The child falls off the swing and badly bruises his leg, for instance. Arnica 30X will typically reduce the pain and expedite the healing.

Aconitum is the “fear remedy.” When there is fear, panic (perhaps the first day of school or camp), or if they witnessed a bad accident, Aconitum would be the remedy. One dose of 30X might be all that is needed to get the child back on track. This can also be used for post-traumatic stress.

Apis is the “bee sting remedy.” When Apis is needed, the typical symptoms are red, itchy, and swollen areas with stinging pains. Apis might even be used for a burn (including sunburn) as the symptoms are similar.

Belladonna is the “fever remedy.” This often helps those high fevers that come on suddenly at 3:00 AM whether due to an ear infection, flu, or other cause.

Chamomilla is the “teething and colic remedy.” When the child is irritable, doesn’t know what he wants, can’t go to sleep, Chamomilla might just be the magic remedy. One father said to me, “What did parents do before homeopathic Chamomilla?” I replied, “Unfortunately, we suffered a lot—right along with the kids!”

Cocculus and Tabacum are the “motion sickness remedies.” Cocculus is most helpful when there is nausea and the child is very sensitive to odors. He may continue to feel bad even after the motion has stopped. Tabacum is the remedy when the child is nauseous and is worse when he watches out the window or looks at any moving object.

Homeopathy is one of my loves because it is so safe and does absolutely remarkable healing when the right remedy is found! We have a great selection of homeopathics at Natur-Tyme as single remedies for under $8.00, and several of these are found in the Hyland’s Kids Kit that we also carry. The kit comes complete with a little booklet to help you find the correct remedy.

We all get so excited for summer in CNY, but with summer come some unpleasant health ailments like sunburns and bug bites. Here are my favorite herbal remedies for these summer-specific concerns.

Lavender Oil for SunburnsLavender essential oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it well-suited for natural skin-care use. Unlike many similar essential oils and plant extracts, it’s safe to apply directly to small areas of the skin without diluting it with water. Apart from the immediate cooling relief it provides, lavender oil also promotes new skin.

Repel and Kill Ticks with Geranium Essential Oil and Relieve the Bites with Thyme Essential OilApply geranium oil before heading out into the woods. It can also be applied to the area where a tick embeds to get the tick to back out of the skin. Thyme essential oil applied topically provides relief after removal of ticks.

Remedies for Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises, and StingsUse Ed’s Herbal Salve for cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Try Apis Homeopathic for stings. Both work wonderfully and are safe for children.

All of these products are available at Natur-Tyme so ask our friendly staff to help you find them on your next visit to the store.

Summer time is a time of the year that schedules change for many of us, and it is easy to get off track in many areas of our lives. We stay up later with the sun being out longer so our sleep is off. There are wonderful parties, picnics, and BBQs that we attend and as a result our eating is not as optimal as it could be.

For our children, we tend to have them involved in activities and camps over the summer to keep them busy and out of mischief. I feel this also is a perfect time to get them more involved in things like gardening, cooking, juicing, etc.

My 6-year-old daughter Lily LOVES to help out in the kitchen; so I bought her a small Island bamboocutting board to use for cutting up produce when we are prepping for grilling or juicing. This is a great time of year with all the fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables to get children more interested in juicing and cooking. At my house, we have cilantro, basil, and several mints growing in our herb garden right outside our kitchen door. Lily loves to make up her own juice recipes. Some are amazing and others….well…..let’s just say we are still experimenting with them!

Using more fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables from your own gardens really gets kids connected to where there food comes from. They can see the entire “Farm-to-Table” process right in their own backyard! My daughter picks blackberries from the bushes in our yard, and we use the berries to make smoothies with the Lifeway Keifer and a protein powder. Vega French Vanilla and Lifetime Life’s Basics Plant Protein Mix Natural Vanilla Flavor are my two favorite protein powders to use. They are loaded with so many vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, fiber, and more! These are a great way to sneak in additional nutrients that may be lacking from your child’s diet. You can also add Nature’s Way Liquid Coconut oil to your smoothie for some healthy additional fats, which are great for increasing cognition. Don’t we all need some of that?!

So let’s keep those kids on track, get them more involved with cooking, and make them healthier at the same time! All of the supplemental products I’ve mentioned are available right here at Natur-Tyme.

By Alexis Capers — Alexis Capers is our Enhanced Beauty Salon and Enhanced Beauty Area manager. Join her every other Wednesday for a blog about her journey into natural health & beauty products.

I think I see it; it’s on the horizon! Spring!!! Everywhere we see the snow melting away and soon the flowers will start poking out. When this season hits, I get in the mood for change—a rebirth of myself, my spirit, my everything! Forget diets in January as a New Year’s Resolution; spring is where it’s at! Like most people, I get stuck in a rut from time to time. As a woman, we are constantly rebuilding ourselves. After puberty, once we have given birth to children, even an illness can put us in a place where we must find ourselves again. I have had close personal brushes with all of these, forever calling on the strength deep inside me to get back to normal (whatever that is!). So I realized that first you must make a mess to transform to something beautiful.

I decided to start with my hair. We get attached to our style and moreover, our stylist. And for me, seeing is believing.

This concept of Organic Color, the color that we use at the Enhanced Beauty Salon, sounded great to me. But, I really did not think it would look as good as what I have had done in the past at a traditional salon. Well to my pleasant surprise–it looks amazing! Emily performed highlights and low lights to blend my natural growth (which is Medium Brown) with my highly bleached-out blonde. My color is beautifully blended and natural. It feels soft and best of all; the color is not harmful to me like those I am used to exposing myself to. A great cut rounded out my service. I have bloomed and am ready for the season!

Since my transformation, I have had many compliments. I tell everyone “It’s Organic Color!” I am a believer and I invite you to become a believer too. It’s time. Let the winter doldrums melt away. Try something new for yourself that is also kind to yourself. All of our stylists are wonderful, so you can book an appointment with confidence! Call 315-671-5199 or email us at salon@natur-tyme.com.

By Alexis Capers— Alexis Capers is our Enhanced Beauty Salon and Enhanced Beauty Area manager. Join her every other Wednesday for a blog about her journey into natural health & beauty products.

Hello all! This is the first time in my life I have kept an electronic account of my days and the fluff that fills it! I say fluff because I always live to enjoy the day as much as possible. So if it’s a cloudy day (which it often can be in Syracuse), it’s really fluffy! But weather aside, I am excited to share my days and journey with you, flashbacks and hot flashes included! So join me in my path to a new beginning of wellness, work, and wonderment!

I am three weeks in my new position at Natur-Tyme and loving it! For many years, I traveled for a manufacturer doing education and sales. While I loved my job, it took me away from my family (3-year old, 10-year old, and 17-year old) so it was a balancing act to say the least! In July of 2012, I was diagnosed with stage-2A breast cancer.

My perspective on life, family, and work all changed. I realized my worth and the quality-of-life I was providing myself fell short due to taking care of others first—typical career mom.

So I changed gears, left my full time job, and on a leap of faith went back to school to pursue a career in Esthetics. Now while I love to perform services and make people look and feel better, I really love managing a team. As luck would have it (or maybe Karma?), I was approached on my graduation day by our placement teacher with this question “How do you feel about natural products?” Interesting question, I thought. How do I feel about them? I have learned now through my cancer journey how important it is to watch what I put in my body. But what about the things I put on my body? Now I will be the first to admit, I’m a product junkie! So this concept is new to me. However, I have an open mind and a thirst for knowledge, so I decided to dive in! And I am loving every minute of it. So join me each week as I discuss more of my journey and share the fabulous natural products I pick up along the way! Creating a healthier me and you too!

Products I am falling for this week: Natur-Tyme Signature Skin care! All these effective products are featured this month for a fantastic value. Priced just right to try and love yourself! My picks: Glycolic Night Crème, Facial Scrub with MSM, Firming Eye Crème, and Peptide C Serum! LOVE! ~Alexis